We’re raiding the archives to celebrate Toyah’s birthday… ‘Titbits’ magazine; 1981: Black Magic and Me:

Toyah gets spooky!

On stage, Toyah Willcox is a spell-binding performer with crazy clothes, brightly coloured hair and new-wave music. Off stage she also knows a bit about spells – having practised black magic and put curses on her enemies. She even admits that she has slept in a coffin. 

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

We’re raiding the archives to celebrate Toyah’s birthday… ‘Rock Times’ magazine; 1981: Toyah:

‘Rock Times’ throws together lots of past Toyah info and quotes to create an interview, of sorts – not so “classic” but it looks good!

Talented actress, successful singer, forthright woman all rolled into one. Maggie Monks traces the rise and rise of Toyah Willcox.

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

We’re raiding the archives to celebrate Toyah’s birthday… ‘Smash Hits’ magazine; 1981: Reader’s Q&A:

Smash Hits’ readers ask Toyah far more interesting, entertaining and relevant questions than the writers!!!

Toyah Willcox answers your questions. Mike Stand sorts through the thousands of postcards and sets the scene.

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

Celebrating Toyah and Robert’s anniversary… ‘Evening Standard’ magazine; 1991: Two Divine:

Raffaella Barker encounters a noteworthy musical marriage.

Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp

Toyah Willcox doesn’t introduce herself when you meet her. She doesn’t need to: there’s no mistaking the 4ft 10in of neatly-parcelled energy which bounces into the room. Following her is the 5ft 10in of Robert Fripp, whom she married five years ago.

With gusto they launch into the story of their marriage. The first two years were hard – Toyah railed against being seen as Mrs Robert Fripp and was furious when bank managers and accountants wanted to speak to the man of the house. ‘I had been put on a pedestal because of my career and I found it difficult to let go of the past,’ she explains.

Robert, who as guitarist and founder of the 70s band King Crimson and collaborator with Brian Eno, has seen a few pedestals in his time, recalls: ‘I saw that my wife was unhappy. Romance is always presented up to the point of marriage and then you are expected to get on with daily existence. My wife found it hard.’

• Read the full classic interview here. Or view a larger scan of the original article here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives yet again… ‘Sunday Express’ magazine; 1987: Toyah’s Mini Secrets:

Toyah talks about Princess Diana, and finding true happiness with Mr Fripp.

When the Princess of Wales met the former Princess of Punk for lunch she revealed a new side to her character. Toyah Willcox tells Sharon Feinstein of that meeting and talks of her own new-found happiness.

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives again… ‘Fitness’ magazine; 1984: My Body Myself:

In her comfortable new home in North London, she talked to Maureen Stevens about fitness and health

“When it comes to fitness, I’ve done the lot. You see, I’ve had to. I was born with a bone deficiency disease and the problems grew as I grew. Looking back on it, I suppose that was why my parents sent me to all sorts of dancing and gymnastics classes from the time I was a toddler. But ice skating was what I really liked. When I was 10, I was working six hours a day at it and having lessons from John Curry’s teacher. Then the blow fell: one of my legs had gradually become much shorter than the other. I had to give up skating, go into calipers and have several operations. It put paid not just to ice skating, but to several years of my life.

• Read the full classic interview here. Or view a larger scan of the original article here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives again… ‘Record Mirror’ magazine; 1985: Into Battle!:

…with the art of Toyah. Yes, the flame-haired minx is back, making saucy records, playing Boadicea and hoping no-one thinks she has a fat bum. Robin Smith says perish the thought! 

Toyah wants to go on the warpath. She hopes to be playing the part of Boadicea, the gal who led a revolt against those naughty Romans about two thousand years ago. 

“Nothing has been confirmed yet and I haven’t signed anything but it sounds like a very interesting part,” she says. “It will be a musical film and some more stars will be taking part, but I can’t say who they are.” 

Ah well, perhaps we’ll see Sting in one of those cute Roman tunics showing off his knobble knees, or Jim Kerr as a Roman emperor…on second thoughts, perhaps not.

• Read the full classic interview here. Or view a larger scan of the original article here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives again… ‘Etcetra’ magazine; 1985: Free The Spirit:

When she was younger, Toyah used to hide behind an aggressive punk front. Now, at 26 going on 27, she explains why she wants the zaniness to come from within.
 
The first time I met Toyah, five years ago, she was a punkette with a riot of orange hair. Today, we’re in a photographic studio, bare except for two canvas chairs and a table with refreshments. She’s dressed simply but stylishly in a loose jacket and trousers. Her style has obviously mellowed, but has Toyah? 

“I’m much more mature than I was five years ago, yes, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I’ve mellowed with age. 

“When I was younger, I didn’t understand people and I took offence easily, so I was always defending myself when I didn’t need to. I don’t do that anymore. 

• Read the full classic interview here. Or view a larger scan of the original article here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here. View all of our recent Classic Eighties Interviews here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives again… ‘Express’ magazine; 1985: From Punk To Perfect:

Toyah tells Gill Chilton why being a woman in showbiz ain’t easy…

Her photos don’t do her justice. The neat, slight young woman who sits opposite me has a warm smile and a surprisingly peachy complexion, which shines through her light make up. Toyah Willcox, once the punk industry’s leading sprite, the woman who launched her own range of weird, wacky make up and inspired a host of tacky fashions, wears a mauve, well-tailored trouser suit and high stilettos. These days, any tarty brilliants are reserved for the stage and photo sessions. At ease, only her hair – brightly dyed, bar dark roots – gives the game away.
 
“I know I used to look outrageous,” she grins, “but it was just fashion and part of what kids were going through at the time. Now I see seventeen year olds and think they look a mess!” Toyah, 28 next May, isn’t, however, feeling her age – “It’ll be my first decade in the entertainment business” – and she couldn’t be happier, dividing her time between singing and acting. “I thought I’d be married with kids at twenty three…

• Read the full classic interview here. Or view a larger scan of the original article here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives again… ‘Woman’ magazine; 1985: “I’m Totally Hooked On Success”:

On the eve of her first concert tour in two years, the normally punky and perky Toyah is, frankly, scared stiff. But as she explained to Judith Simons, if you crave attention, you have to face the music. 

Toyah Willcox is facing a terrifying ordeal – going back on the road as a singer for the first time in two years. 
 
“I’m really scared,” Toyah confessed. “Until I decided to take a break from my music career and concentrate on acting I did a concert tour every four months. 
 
“Some people think touring is a holiday,” she continued, “but I don’t! I never go to parties after a show. I save my energy. I get away from everybody and think about the performance.” 

I was talking to Toyah at the offices of her management company in Chelsea. With her bright orange hair swept neatly across her forehead and in plain black trousers and thigh-length floral shirt, the tiny 4 foot 11 inch star looked more like a trendy business executive than a flamboyant pop star. 

But I’d heard all the daunting rumours…that classmates had been terrified of her temper…that she’d spent her teens at loggerheads with her parents…that she’d been overfond of the bottle. So, were they true or headline seeking stunts?

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.

This weekend’s scanning took place to the soundtrack of the stonking ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives this weekend… ‘Just Seventeen’ magazine; 1987: Ro Newton Meets The Woman Who Clobbers Men

Toyah talks ‘Desire’, PMT, and rude assholes in supermarkets!!

“I’m only just becoming a singer.” insists Toyah, with a defiant look in her eye. “Up until now, I’ve just been a fashionable object. I may be working in the theatre, but I don’t want the respectability of Elaine Paige. I always want to be going against the grain.” 

Toyah Willcox is fizzing with enthusiasm. For eight years she has portrayed herself as a flame-haired fireball, ready to erupt at any moment, and it’s a wonder she has managed to keep it going for so long. But with 15 albums under her belt and more image changes than most of us have had hot dinners, she still craves more.  

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives this weekend… ‘No.1 Annual’; 1986: OBSESSIONS

Toyah talks healthy eating, exercise and more, in the mid-80s!

I started being obsessed with my health a few years ago when I was put on a diet. I’d gone to an allergy doctor who discovered I reacted badly to white flour and certain other foods, thus changing my moods dramatically.

I’ve always had an incredibly bad temper but it really got worse when I ate the wrong things. A Mars Bar could put me in the most filthy mood.

Since I’ve become a vegetarian I can control my moods even more. I live on vegetables, fruit and rice, as well as grains. Meat and processed foods really slow me down. When I ate meat I used to feel heavy and bloated, but my healthy eating plan has changed all that.

• Read the full classic interview here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.

We’re raiding the Toyah archives this weekend… ‘Beat’ magazine; 1985: Everything you always wanted to know about… TOYAH

Full name: Toyah Ann Willcox is the name I’m registered with. My real name is Toyah Pepita Willcox, but the registrar said I ought to have one English name.

Born: King’s Heath, Birmingham, May 18th 1958.

Went to school at: Edgbaston Church of England School for Girls. It was a private school. I was about four when I went there and I left at 17.

School nickname: Toilet!

Were you a swot?: Not at all. I was dyslexic and only learnt to read when I was 11 and from then on I was so far behind I just didn’t bother. I was expelled once, but they invited me back.

• Read the full classic interview/Q&A here. Visit Dreamscape’s Interviews & Articles section here.